Account book



Juh 10,1930. J. A. FARNUM ACCOUNT BOOK Filed May 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheetl June 10, 1930. J,A,FARN M 1,763,506

ACCOUNT BOOK 4 Filed May 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6y We Patented June 10,1930 JOHN A; FABNUM, .OF' WORGESTER,. .MASWSAQHUSETTS ACCOUNT -BOOKApplication filed... May 25,

his invention relates to a book for use in record keeping, of the looseleaf, type.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction inwhich the back of the book can be removed very readily from themechanical part contained therein, to expose the same for adjustmentand.repairs; to provide a construction inwhich the curved rods on which theloose leaves are held can be made longer than. has been the caseheretofore, thus providing for the efiicient holding of a full set ofloose leaves and lessening the danger of the upper leaves be ingaccidentally detached and to provide a 1 simplified latch for lockingand unlocking the back to permit separation of the two sets of rods.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is aplan of a book constructed in accordance with this invention and shownas in normal open position with no sheets in place;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same partly in cross section on enlargedscale;

Fig. 3 is a plan on enlarged scale of the end of the book illustratingthe latch mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device unlocked Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 2 showing the book unlocked and spread out so that theleaves can be inserted or removed;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of a part of the looking mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a plan on enlarged scale showing the position of the rods whenthe back is locked in closed position;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the center 01" one of the rodsshowing the manner in which the extra length is secured, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

The present invention is an improvement on the well known type of looseleaf account book in which the leaves are held in place by rodsextending in pairs but alternately from opposite sides of a hinged back.In this type 1928. Seria ..No. 280,564.

of book it has been necessary heretofore to take it all to pieces inorder to get at the mechanical parts at the back, which is a waste oftime and not only involves expense but the loss of a book for aconsiderable period while being repaired. The rods which hold the looseleaves extend across the space in the back and they have beengenerallymade of a length equal to the thickness of the entire lot of looseleaves when the book is full. Therefore when the book is opened and allthe leaves left-on one side the natural expansion of the papers, whichare pressed togetherin the book, will bring the leaves to thevends oithe rods and make it very easy to displace them and this givesconsiderable trouble.

This invention, as stated above, is designed to mitigate or overcomethese difliculties and to provide an improved latch to hold the twohalves of the back together.

In this invention I use the same principles that have been employedbefore but in an improved form. The book is made up of severalelements-including two back memhere 10, hinged together along a centerby a hinge pin 11. These are made of sheet metal and are both L-shapedin cross section so that when in closed form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,they furnish a rectangular trough in which the'lower ends of the leavesof the ledger or other book are held.

These twometallic members are locked together in the position shown inthese two figures by meansof a spring tongue 12 bolted to the side ofone ofthe members 10 and extending outwardly across the hinge to aposition part way across the other half. In this position the tonguecomes underneath a tooth or catch 13 on a stationary longitudinal member14 bolted to the other half of the back 10.

Located adjacent to the extreme end of this tongue is a lever 15 pivotedon a screw 16 and having-an operating projection 17. When this lever ispulled out to the longitudinal position shownin Fig. 4; the projection17 pulls the tongue 12 out from under the catch 13. This permits the twohalves of the back to be swung apart to the position shown in Fig. 5.The lever 15 is then released and the natural spring of the tongue 12will pull face for the book to rest on and spaced from the back by aseries of bolt heads 22. Thus.

these pieces 21 are detachably secured tothe back members 10. Thesestrips 21 can be removed by manipulating the screws 20 thus exposing theback for any repairs or other operations that may be required.

As is usual, each one of the backs 10 is provided with a series of rods25. The rods of the two series alternate with each other as indicated inFigs. 1 and 7. Instead of having these rods terminate just short of theopposite back member 10 I provide a series of perforations 36 througheach back member for receiving these rods. These perforations areelongated and provided with a reinforcement around the same if desired.On account of the curvature of the rods at their ends and theirpenetration through the back members I can make them practically a halfinch longer than has been the custom heretofore. On account of thiselongation the rods can proj ect through clear to the inner surface ofthe backing member 21.

lVhen the back is opened, as shown in Fig. 5, the whole body of leavescan be held on one set of these rods and the natural expansion of theleaves, when relieved from pressure, is not likely to bring the top onesup above the tops of these rods. In this way less care has to beexercised to avoid the detachment of the top leaves and the user canbring the whole body of leaves over to one side without thisv danger. Inthis way the well-known advantages of detachable leaf books are retainedbut improvements are introduced in several particulars as stated above.

Although I have illustrated and described only one form of the inventionI am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by anyperson skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims.

7 Therefore, I. do not wish to be limited in these respects but what Ido claim is 1. In a loose leaf account book, the combination with ahinged back of metal, of a non-metallic covering for each half of theback and detachable means for holding the covering on the back, wherebythe covering can be removed at will and the metallic parts exposed foradjustment and repair.

2. In a loose leaf account book, the combination with a metallic backformed of two parts hinged together, of a stiff non-metallic coveringfor each half of the back partaking of the shape thereof, and removablemeans for securing the covering to the back on both sides to provide forready detachment.

3. In a loose leaf account book, a metallic back consisting of twomembers hinged together, one member having a fixed rigid catch locatedthereon, the other member having a straight spring tongue projecting adistance acrossthe hinge at right angles thereto between the two membersinto a position to engage the catch as the book is closed and adapted tospring back under the catch, for holding the book locked in closedposition.

4. In a loose leaf book, a metallic back consisting of two membershinged together along the center, one member having a fixed rigid catchlocated thereon, the other member having a spring tongue projectingacross the hinge between the two members into a position to engage thecatch as the book is closed, and a pivoted lever on the first-named backmember having a projection for engaging the end of the spring tongue andforcing it beyond the catch when said lever is swung to longitudinalposition so as to release the two1 members and permit the opening of thebac r.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHN A. FARNUM.

